Smoodock's Blog

What would you expect to see, once God is in charge, once he is King over the nations? What comes to mind, as I consider that question, is what folks believe will occur at the proverbial return of Christ. I’ve read it in Christian literature; I’ve heard it preached over the pulpit. When the Almighty rises up to act, men expect great battles, kingdoms overturned and the rule of Law, God’s Law to be enforced—worldwide!

Something similar was expected with the coming of the Messiah during Jesus’ day. For example, when John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus from where he was in Herod’s prison, he asked, if Jesus truly were the one they expected to come, or should they be looking for someone else to arrive (Luke 7:18-19). John was troubled over Jesus’ preaching: love your enemies; do good to them who use you; if you’re compelled to walk a mile, walk two etc. Were these the words of the Messiah, who was to set all things in order? John and everyone else in that day, expected the kind of king, modern Christians expect with the so-called future return of Christ! They expected a powerful and fearless general who would lead his people from victory to victory and simply couldn’t be slain, no matter what the opposition might do (cp. John 12:34).About eight to nine months into Jesus public ministry, John was imprisoned by Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee and Peraea. Most folks, today, believe John was preaching that Herod was a sinner, living in adultery. However, I don’t believe this is true. While John did claim Herod was living in adultery, I don’t believe he was preaching it to the public. I believe John’s imprisonment occurred through more subtle means, something like the Pharisees working with the Herodians and catching John in his words, by interrogating him (cp. John 1:19-28), similar to what the Pharisees tried to do with Jesus (Mark 3:6; 12:13).

I believe John was hoping to be released by Jesus after he put the tyrant, Herod, out of power. He, like everyone else who imagines what it would be like once Almighty God acts, believed the power of God would be openly expressed for all to see. Nevertheless, this is not how Jesus was doing things. When he told his disciples he had Almighty power, Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the Gospel to the world, telling them about the things Jesus said and did (Matthew 28:18-20).

When’s John’s disciples were sent to give John the message that Jesus gave them to give (Luke 7:22-23), Jesus turned to the crowd of people and asked them what they expected to see when they went out into the wilderness to hear John preach. Was it a reed shaken in the wind,[1] or a man clothed in soft garments? On the contrary, those folks are found in kings’ palaces (Luke 7: 24-25). In other words, John was a powerful preacher that some folks in authority thought should be silenced, so power is not always found in places one would expect to find it.

Similarly, Jesus preached the return of God to his people, but the people, including John, were expecting to find a powerful Messiah, whose power was physically and straightforwardly expressed. Nevertheless, Jesus commanded his disciples to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44), submit to their authority, even going above and beyond what they demand (Matthew 5:41-42) etc. This kind of power was expressed passively. Love, if consistent, often disarms one’s opponent, and ultimately yields mutual respect and even friendship. Submitting oneself to do more than is required, also breeds a change of heart toward the submissive servant, and, also, often ends in mutual respect and friendship. Power expressed doesn’t need to be violent. Almighty power is able to accomplish its goal without violence, no matter how the opposition acts toward the Almighty One. This is what was unexpected in Jesus’ day, and what is overlooked by Christians, looking for the supposed Second Coming of Christ.[2]

The manner in which Herod Antipas expressed his authority and power wasn’t very well received by the general public. They walked in fear of the tyrant. Shouldn’t the power of the Almighty be done differently? What are we expecting to see? If the rule of God “is not of this world,” Why do we expect Jesus to act like the rulers of this world to gain his victory over them?

God has returned to his people, but not as they expected him to return. His Presence has been with mankind in the Temple that Jesus built beginning in his public ministry and transforming from the physical Presence to the spiritual Presence in Acts 2. He hasn’t returned to a Temple made with hands (Acts 7:48; 17:24). Instead, we need to go back to Eden to understand the rule of the Almighty. His rule is not with violence, nor is it with the strict enforcement of the Law. Instead, the rule of God, vis-à-vis his Almighty power, is expressed and fulfilled in mankind, who of his own freewill, decides to be an image of God, which he was created to be (Genesis 1:27).

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[1] According to N.T. Wright, Herod Antipas had coins minted with reeds on the one side. So, Jesus was subtly referring to Herod with both questions: the reed and the apparel.

[2] My ultimate conclusion about power is a departure from N.T. Wright’s conclusions in Simply Jesus. I take full responsibility for the direction my studies take in connection with Dr. Wright’s work.